Apparatus for transporting parts

Abstract

A part transporting apparatus comprises: a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards. Provided to this arrangement are: a second stopper which operates so as to open and close in the width direction of the guiding groove, and hold the second part from the front of the row of parts; and a movable first stopper which stops the first part at the tip of the guiding groove; wherein the first stopper is moved forwards synchronously with the transporting member immediately prior to completion of the forward movement of the transporting member, thereby separating the first part in the row from the second part. The first stopper retreats following the retreat of the transporting member. Such an arrangement provides for an apparatus for transporting parts, wherein the first part and second part can be separated in a sure manner even in the event that the parts are non-magnetic material, wherein ease of extracting of the first part is facilitated, and wherein parts can be supplied in a sure manner even in the event that an extracting failure occurs.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A part transporting apparatus, comprising: 
       a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding said parts;  
       a transporting member which is provided at the base of said guiding groove and transports parts in one direction by moving forwards and backwards along said groove;  
       a driving means for reciprocally driving said transporting member in the forward and backward directions;  
       a first stopper which is provided at the tip of said guiding groove to stop the first part in the row;  
       a second stopper which operates so as to open and close in the width direction of said guiding groove, and hold the second part from the front of the row of parts being transported on the upper plane of said transporting member;  
       a synchronizing means for opening and closing said second stopper synchronously with the reciprocal forward and backward movement of said transporting member; and  
       a synchronizing mechanism for moving said first stopper forwards synchronously with said transporting member immediately before completion of the forward movement of said transporting member, and for moving said first stopper backwards following the backward movement of said transporting member;  
       wherein, once the second stopper holds the second part, the transporting member moves forward by a certain distance, thereby separating the first part in the row and the second part.  
     
     
       2. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  1 , further comprising extracting means for extracting from said guiding groove said first part which has been separated from said second part. 
     
     
       3. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  1 , said synchronizing mechanism comprising: 
       a resistance member which holds said first stopper by friction resistance; and  
       a synchronizing member which opens a certain gap between said first stopper and said transporting mechanism so as to cause synchronous operation;  
       wherein said first stopper is pressed by said transporting member so as to move forwards at the time of said transporting member moving forwards by a certain distance following said second stopper holding the second part, said first stopper retreats by means of said synchronizing member in a manner following the backward movement of said transporting member;  
       and wherein, in the event that the first part in the row remains on said transporting member, the first part is pressed backwards by said first stopper so as to come into contact with the second part in the row.  
     
     
       4. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  1 , said synchronizing mechanism comprising: 
       a spring which presses said first stopper backwards; and  
       a restricting member which restricts the backwards movement of said first stopper;  
       wherein said first stopper is pressed by said transporting member so as to move forwards at the time of said transporting member moving forwards by a certain distance following said second stopper holding the second part, said first stopper retreats by means of said spring in a manner following the retreat of said transporting member;  
       and wherein, in the event that the first part in the row remains on said transporting member, the first part is pressed backwards by said first stopper so as to come into contact with the second part in the row.  
     
     
       5. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein said driving means drives said transporting member in a reciprocal manner such that the speed of moving in the backward direction is greater than the speed of moving in the forward direction; 
       wherein the speed of moving in the forward direction is a speed at which holding friction acts between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof;  
       and wherein the speed of moving in the backward direction is a speed at which the friction between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof is essentially broken.  
     
     
       6. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  2 , said synchronizing mechanism comprising: 
       a resistance member which holds said first stopper by friction resistance; and  
       a synchronizing member which opens a certain gap between said first stopper and said transporting mechanism so as to cause synchronous operation;  
       wherein said first stopper is pressed by said transporting member so as to move forwards at the time of said transporting member moving forwards by a certain distance following said second stopper holding the second part, said first stopper retreats by means of said synchronizing member in a manner following the backward movement of said transporting member;  
       and wherein, in the event that the first part in the row remains on said transporting member, the first part is pressed backwards by said first stopper so as to come into contact with the second part in the row.  
     
     
       7. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  2 , said synchronizing mechanism comprising: 
       a spring which presses said first stopper backwards; and  
       a restricting member which restricts the backwards movement of said first stopper;  
       wherein said first stopper is pressed by said transporting member so as to move forwards at the time of said transporting member moving forwards by a certain distance following said second stopper holding the second part, said first stopper retreats by means of said spring in a manner following the retreat of said transporting member;  
       and wherein, in the event that the first part in the row remains on said transporting member, the first part is pressed backwards by said first stopper so as to come into contact with the second part in the row.  
     
     
       8. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  2 , wherein said driving means drives said transporting member in a reciprocal manner such that the speed of moving in the backward direction is greater than the speed of moving in the forward direction; 
       wherein the speed of moving in the forward direction is a speed at which holding friction acts between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof;  
       and wherein the speed of moving in the backward direction is a speed at which the friction between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof is essentially broken.  
     
     
       9. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  3 , wherein said driving means drives said transporting member in a reciprocal manner such that the speed of moving in the backward direction is greater than the speed of moving in the forward direction; 
       wherein the speed of moving in the forward direction is a speed at which holding friction acts between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof;  
       and wherein the speed of moving in the backward direction is a speed at which the friction between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof is essentially broken.  
     
     
       10. A part transporting apparatus according to claim  4 , wherein said driving means drives said transporting member in a reciprocal manner such that the speed of moving in the backward direction is greater than the speed of moving in the forward direction; 
       wherein the speed of moving in the forward direction is a speed at which holding friction acts between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof;  
       and wherein the speed of moving in the backward direction is a speed at which the friction between said transporting member and a part disposed upon the upper surface thereof is essentially broken.